Cell cycle-dependent expression and nucleolar localization of hCAP-H.

Condensin is a conserved 13S heteropentamer composed of two nonidentical structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) family proteins, in Xenopus XCAP-C and XCAP-E, and three regulatory subunits, XCAP-D2, XCAP-G, and XCAP-H. Both biochemical and genetic analyses have demonstrated an essential role for the 13S condensin complex in mitotic chromosome condensation. Further, a potential requirement for condensin in completion of chromatid arm separation in early anaphase is demonstrated by the mutational phenotypes of the Drosophila homologues of XCAP-H, barren and XCAP-C, DmSMC4. In this study we have investigated the expression and subcellular distribution of hCAP-H, the human homolog of XCAP-H, in order to better understand its cellular functions. Transcription of hCAP-H was restricted to proliferating cells with highest expression during the G(2) phase of the cell cycle. In contrast, cellular hCAP-H protein levels were constant throughout the cell cycle. hCAP-H was found to be associated with mitotic chromosomes exhibiting a nonuniform but symmetric distribution along sister chromatids. The symmetry of hCAP-H association with sister chromatids suggests that there are sequence-dependent domains of condensin aggregation. During interphase hCAP-H, -C, and -E, have distinct punctate nucleolar localization, suggesting that condensin may associate with and modulate the conformation and function of rDNA. hCAP-H association with condensed chromatin was not observed in the early phase of chromosome condensation when histone H3 phosphorylation has already taken place. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that histone H3 phosphorylation precedes condensin-mediated condensation.

Chromosome condensation factor Brn1p is required for chromatid separation in mitosis.

This work describes BRN1, the budding yeast homologue of Drosophila Barren and Xenopus condensin subunit XCAP-H. The Drosophila protein is required for proper chromosome segregation in mitosis, and Xenopus protein functions in mitotic chromosome condensation. Mutant brn1 cells show a defect in mitotic chromosome condensation and sister chromatid separation and segregation in anaphase. Chromatid cohesion before anaphase is properly maintained in the mutants. Some brn1 mutant cells apparently arrest in S-phase, pointing to a possible function for Brn1p at this stage of the cell cycle. Brn1p is a nuclear protein with a nonuniform distribution pattern, and its level is up-regulated at mitosis. Temperature-sensitive mutations of BRN1 can be suppressed by overexpression of a novel gene YCG1, which is homologous to another Xenopus condensin subunit, XCAP-G. Overexpression of SMC2, a gene necessary for chromosome condensation, and a homologue of the XCAP-E condensin, does not suppress brn1, pointing to functional specialization of components of the condensin complex.

Identification of a second region of the beta-subunit involved in regulation of calcium channel inactivation.

Previous studies have shown that NH2 termini of the type 1 and 2 beta-subunits modulate the rate at which the neuronal alpha 1E calcium channel inactivates in response to voltage and that they do so independently of their common effect to stimulate activation by voltage (R. Olcese, N. Qin, T. Schneider, A. Neely, X. Wei, E. Stefani, and L. Birnbaumer, Neuron 13: 1433-1438, 1994). By constructing NH2-terminal deletions of several splice variants of beta-subunits, we have now found differences in the way they affect the rate of alpha 1E inactivation that lead us to identify a second domain that also regulates the rate of voltage-induced inactivation of the Ca2+ channel. This second domain, named segment 3, lies between two regions of high-sequence identity between all known beta-subunits and exists in two lengths (long and short), each encoded in a separate exon. Beta-Subunits with the longer 45- to 53-amino acid version cause the channel to inactivate more slowly than subunits with the shorter 7-amino acid version. As is the case for the NH2 terminus, the segment 3 does not affect the regulation of channel activation by the beta-subunit. In addition, the effect of the NH2-terminal segment prevails over that of the internal segment. This raises the possibility that phosphorylation, other types of posttranslational modification, or interaction with other auxiliary calcium channel subunits may be necessary to unmask the regulatory effect of the internal segment.

Hypercholesterolemia and endothelial dysfunction.

Endothelial cells respond to hemodynamic forces with the expression of different phenotypes with disparate functional properties. At arterial bends and flow dividers, cells are relatively deprived of fluid-shear-stress-induced cell differentiation and exhibit phenotypes with increased mitotic rate, decreased intercellular contact, increased permeability for macromolecules, and the expression of molecules favoring constriction, adhesion, and thrombosis. Arterial sites covered by such cells are vulnerable to the atherogenic effects of hypercholesterolemia. A hallmark of endothelial cells exposed to hypercholesterolemia is a reduced capacity to release endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Pharmacological interventions that suppress or stimulate nitric oxide production appear to enhance or reduce the atherogenic effects of hypercholesterolemia.

Vasoprotection and antihypertensive therapy.

Vasoprotective drugs decrease the vulnerability of blood vessels to cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Mechanistic treatment end-points of hypertension (normalization of endovascular pressure) may not correct nonhypertensive components of the pathobiology of hypertension. Estrogen replacement therapy, antihypertensive treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and manipulations of nitric oxide metabolism may have beneficial effects on vessels in the absence of blood pressure normalization. Estrogens and L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide, can partly correct impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation, a pathophysiologic hallmark of hypertensive states. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors preserve endothelium-dependent vasodilation and protect arteries against the atherogenic effects of hypercholesterolemia by a non-hypolipidemic, non-hypotensive mechanism.

Vectorial Ca2+ flux from the extracellular space to the endoplasmic reticulum via a restricted cytoplasmic compartment regulates inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-stimulated Ca2+ release from internal stores in vascular endothelial cells.

Depletion of the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ store of vascular endothelial cells after selective inhibition of the endoplasmic-reticulum (ER) Ca2+ pump by thapsigargin or 2,5-di-t-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) increases Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space in the absence of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. One model to account for these results suggests a close association between the internal store and the plasmalemma, allowing for the vectorial movement of Ca2+ from the extracellular space to the ER. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores is regulated by the free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Thus agonist-induced Ca2+ entry may directly regulate Ca2+ release from internal stores. To test these hypotheses, we examined the effect of 1-(beta-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl)-1H-imidazole (SKF 96365), an inhibitor of Ca2+ influx, on unidirectional 45Ca2+ efflux (i.e. retrograde radioisotope flux via the influx pathway) and on [Ca2+]i as measured by fura-2. Bradykinin produced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i, reflecting release of Ca2+ from internal stores, and a sustained increase indicative of Ca2+ influx. In the absence of agonist, 45Ca2+ efflux was slow and monoexponential with time. Addition of BK dramatically increased 45Ca2+ efflux; 50-60% of the 45Ca2+ associated with the cell monolayer was released within 2 min after addition of bradykinin. Both the bradykinin-induced change in [Ca2+]i and the stimulation of 45Ca2+ efflux was completely blocked by loading the cells with the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA. At a supermaximal concentration of bradykinin (50 nM), SKF 96365 (50 microM) inhibited the rise in [Ca2+]i attributed to influx without affecting release from internal stores. At a threshold concentration of bradykinin (2 nM), SKF 96365 blocked influx, but stimulated Ca2+ release from internal stores, as indicated by increases in both the transient component of the fura-2 response and 45Ca2+ efflux. Thapsigargin (200 nM) and BHQ (10 microM) produced an increase in 45Ca2+ efflux that was completely blocked by SKF 96365 or by cytosolic loading with BAPTA. These results suggest the existence of a restricted sub-plasmalemmal space that is defined by an area of surface membrane which contains the Ca(2+)-influx pathway but is devoid of Ca2+ pumps, and by a section of ER that is rich in thapsigargin-sensitive Ca(2+)-pump units.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Depletion of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ store in vascular endothelial cells activates the agonist-sensitive Ca(2+)-influx pathway.

Previous studies in non-excitable cells have suggested that depletion of internal Ca2+ stores activates Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space via a mechanism that does not require stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. To test this hypothesis in vascular endothelial cells, the effect of the Ca(2+)-ATPase/pump inhibitor 2,5-di-t-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was examined. BHQ produced a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, which remained elevated over basal values for several minutes and was substantially inhibited in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Application of bradykinin after BHQ demonstrated that the BHQ-sensitive compartment partially overlapped the bradykinin-sensitive store. Similar results were obtained with thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid, two other Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors. Although BHQ had no effect on phosphoinositide hydrolysis, both 45Ca2+ influx and efflux were stimulated by this agent. These results suggest that depletion of the agonist-sensitive Ca2+ store is sufficient for activation of Ca2+ influx. Several characteristics of the Ca(2+)-influx pathway activated by internal store depletion were compared with those of the agonist-activated pathway. Bradykinin-stimulated Ca2+ influx was increased at alkaline extracellular pH (pHo), and was inhibited by extracellular La3+, by depolarization of the membrane, and by the novel Ca(2+)-influx blocker 1-(beta-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy]-4- methoxyphenethyl)-1H-imidazole hydrochloride (SKF 96365). Additionally, bradykinin stimulated influx of both 45Ca2+ and 133Ba2+, consistent with the hypothesis that the agonist-activated influx pathway is permeable to both of these bivalent cations. Likewise, activation of Ca2+ influx by BHQ, thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid was blocked by La3+, membrane depolarization and SKF 96365, but was unaffected by nitrendipine or BAY K 8644. Furthermore, Ca2+ influx stimulated by BHQ was increased at alkaline pHo and BHQ stimulated the influx of both 45Ca2+ and 133Ba2+ to the same extent. These results demonstrate that the agonist-activated Ca(2+)-influx pathway and the pathway activated by depletion of the agonist-sensitive internal Ca2+ store are indistinguishable.